“Let’s Line Up Bill” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Let’s Line Up Bill” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Wingy Thomas.
Tune: “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”
It’s a long way to good conditions
While Scissor Bill hangs around
For he’s solid out at Roach’s,
Strong on Hump’s and Shippey’s ground.
The only place he’s absent
Is at Mills’ six-bits camp:
There, they’ve all joined the Wobblies,
So Bill had to decamp!
To hell with these old blankets
On which cooties swarm at will!
We can end these fierce conditions
With the help of Scissor Bill.
When Bill joins One Big Union,
On clean beds we will flop:
Not in portable doghouses
With rain pourin’ in at top.
It’s a long way to good conditions
While Scissor Bill hangs around
For he’s solid out at Roach’s,
Strong on Hump’s and Shippey’s ground.
Let us organize, educate him
At Mills’ six-bits camp.
If we can but emancipate him,
Then Bill will encamp!
The crumbs are running races;
The garbage makes us sigh.
If Bill would line up with us,
Away these things ’u’d fly!
In place of belly and cabbage
And all that kind of junk,
We’d have a cook and cookee
Whose chuck would never punk.
It’s a long way to good conditions
While Scissor Bill hangs around
For he’s solid out at Roach’s,
Strong on Hump’s and Shippey’s ground.
Let us organize, educate him
At Mills’ six-bits camp.
If we can but emancipate him,
Then Bill will encamp!
Now, to better our conditions,
We must take old Scissor Bill
And teach him organization:
His wood block we must drill!
He’s had enough “democracy”;
He’s longing for a change.
With Bill wised up, we’ll drive
The Gyppo loggers from the range.
It’s a long way to good conditions
While Scissor Bill hangs around
For he’s solid out at Roach’s,
Strong on Hump’s and Shippey’s ground.
Let us organize, educate him
At Mills’ six-bits camp.
If we can but emancipate him,
Then Bill will encamp!